Learn to Pump a Heart and Get Yours Pumping

In observance of Heart Health Month in February, NCCU Student Health, Nursing, and the RCMI partnered to deliver education on the updated community CPR guidelines from the American Heart Association (AHA). This initiative aligned with the national Pink Goes Red campaign led by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., which seeks to raise awareness of heart disease within the African American community.

The program provided hands-on training in hands-only CPR, proper use of Narcan (naloxone), and Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), emphasizing early intervention strategies to reduce preventable cardiac deaths.



It was grounded in resuscitation science research, which demonstrates that early recognition of cardiac arrest, immediate high-quality CPR, rapid defibrillation with an AED, and timely administration of naloxone in opioid-related emergencies significantly improve survival outcomes. By equipping students with these evidence-based skills, the program directly contributes to strengthening the chain of survival in both campus and community settings.

WISE (Wednesdays in Science Exchange)

At the February session of the WISE Seminar, Dr. David Sherwood, a developmental biologist from Duke University, introduced attendees to the research organism Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). He described how these tiny worms are widely used in scientific research and shared insights from his lab’s work on the extracellular matrix. His research explores how basement membranes are structured and uniquely organized in a tissue-specific manner.

Through his WISE seminar, Dr. Sherwood highlighted the fascinating biology of C. elegans and demonstrated how fundamental questions in biology can drive discoveries that deepen our understanding of human disease. The seminar was followed by a networking lunch with trainees, providing an opportunity to ask additional questions, discuss career paths, expand professional networks, and connect with other scientists at the institute working across diverse research areas.

Your Voice Your Health: Broken Pipelines

At a recent Your Voice Your Health virtual learning session, featured experts shared insights on how recent policy changes have impacted and will continue to impact healthcare access and delivery in rural communities, with particular focus on minority populations. They have highlighted the key barriers and challenges that contribute to the shortage of healthcare professionals in rural areas.

The session ended with speakers presenting evidence-based strategies and policy recommendations to strengthen the healthcare workforce and improve health in underserved rural regions. We welcomed 92 participants from a wide range of backgrounds and regions, creating a rich and dynamic discussion space.

New Publication Alert!

We are pleased to announce that our team has published the paper, “The Relationship Between the Survey of Well-being of Young Children and Speech-language Delay Diagnosis,” in the Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics.

We congratulate Dr. Danai Fannin and her team for their ongoing efforts and for achieving this important publication milestone. 

^{Join Us for a Virtual Learning Session!}



^{📅 March 27th, 2026}

^{⏰ 12:00 pm to 1:15 pm}

Are you interested in engaging with the community to support your research, project development, connect with community partners, and frame a proposal grounded in Community Engaged Research practices?

If yes, connect with the Community Engagement Core for a consultation.

We invite you to connect with us and share your updates, ideas, faculty publications and ongoing research endeavors.

Reach out to us today and let's collaborate!

📧 www.nccu.edu/rcmi

📧 rcmi@nccu.edu

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